AUSTRALIAN EXTRACTS.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 488, 23 May 1864, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN EXTRACTS.

On Friday last, Mr. Pill—whose name Ims so long beei associated with the Argus as jits manager—reCicivcd a parting present, subscribed for by his associates ! on that journal, consisting of a handsome ti*n and coi'.Ve senile of silver. A complimentary address, most n'.initroiuly signed, expressive of the sentiments of respect aiui c?Uc;n which are entertained for Mr. Dill hy those who have been associated with him in ihe work of the Argus, was also presented. TLe presenta'.ion took place in the new composing-room. Tho plafe bore an appropriate inscription.— Argus. Coal.—Tt is stated that cannel coal has been discovered in Gipns Land, about six miles from Sale.— Ibid. The Keaxs.—The short engagement of Mr. and Mrs. Kean at Sandhurst has been brilliantly successful. The plays presented were The Merchant of Venice, Louis tlie Eleventh, Hamlet, Henry the Eighth, and the Jealous Wife. The Advertiser states the amount of money taken at the doore was between £1,000 and £1,100." The struggle for admission on Saturday evening is described as having been something "to which a Sandhurst theatre has hitherto been a stranger." At the fall of the curtain, Mr. Kean said—" Tin's Is the last night we shall ever perform in Victoria. The extraordinary success which hits attended our engagement in .Sandhurst is indeed a brilliant termination to our prosperous tour in this colony, and has afforded Mrs. Kean and myself the most sincere gratification. [Applause.] Our visit to Australia has been to us replete with iuterest, and when divided, as soon we shall be by thousands of miles, we shall remember with pleasurable and grateful feelings the wonders we have seen, and the kindness we have experienced. (Applause.) In a few days we expect to arrive in Sydney, and, after taking a brief and final farewell of our friends in that city, we shall cross the Pacific Ocean to California, returning homewards by way of New York and the North Atlantic States. We shall revisit America with emotions of no ordinary kind, for ir was there my early professional efforts were first encouraged ; it was there the applause I received kindled the first glow of hope that I might one d.iv obtain success. It was there Mrs. Kean, then Ellen Tree, achieved so many triumphs and Won so many friends (Applause.) Soon after our return to England, which will be in about twelve months, we shall retire into private life, and then, if spared to enjoy the fruits of the labor of life in an age of ease, we shall often converse on ' the fortunes we have passed,' and Australia will arise a prominent feature in our hearts and minds."— lbid. Cooper's Creek.—We learn from a gentleman who has just arrived from Cooper's Creek, which he left six weeks ago, and who followed a track from the creek to the Upper Darling to the eastward of that taken by Mr. Howilt on his relieving expedition, that very great rains have fallen in the interior, on the high land at the head of the Paroo, and the head waters of the Warrego. The floods, in fact, which have prevailed in Queensland have extended into the centre of the continent, though they have not reached southwards of Fort Bourke. When our informant struck the margin of the flood, he was forced to construct a small canvas boat, and was three days in reaching tlie main course of the Darling. At Fort Murchison, three weeks ago, the Darling was estimated as being from sixty to seventy miles wide. Tlie river had then fallen a little, however, and the worst was considered over. Nearly the whole of the houses of the settlers were surrounded by water, and th 6 inmates were forced to the upper stories and roofs. In almost all cases on this side ot Fort Bourke, stores had been removed in time beyond the reach of tlie waters. Mr. R. Reid, at Talarno, had lost a flock of sheep, but the losses of stock generally wore less than might, have been apprehended. The mailman ht.d not been able to go farther than Talarno, and could not get nearer to Menindio than sixteen miles. Menindie, however, is situated on rising ground, and no apprehensions were 'entertained regarding the settlers there. At Kallara all was right, but a number of rams had to be carried by boat to a place of safety, At that station a rude boat was built, in which our informant came down the river. The story of the murder of Mr. Dowling and his shepherds on the Paroo River was dhproved. No oue had been injured there, and the story had apparently originated with the blacks themselves, and had arisen out of one of their number having thrown two or three spears at one of Mr. Dowliug's men. At Killara, on the 14th nit. the Darling had fallen about a foot.

Our hills havo been already covered with snow, and notwithstanding the inconvenience of the sudden change, the result has been very satisfactory, as many claims which have stood idle for months past, for want of water, can now be worked. The spurs on the 88. Jordan, Red Jacket, and Blue Jacket Creeks, will employ many men during tho winter, and probably lead to tho discovery of some valuable quartz reefs. Some of our richest reefs have been found under similar circumstances, and very recently one of the richest claims in tho district was opened at Donnelly's Creek, by Messrs. John Kinnane and Co., in aplaco which would never havo been thought of by the ordinary reef-prospector. The locality i 3 situated about 200 yards from Messrs. Kearney and Co.'s machine, on tho opposite side of tho creek, and tha reef is evidently a new oue. Prospecting in tho adjoining ranges has since been vigorously carriod on ; and pending the formation of companies and other necessary preparations for working the ground, the parties are not disposed to make known their discoveries. It is very much to be regretted that several of the claims at Donnelly's Creek are not being worked with that energy which their richness and general appearance would warrant. I am inclined to think that the cause may be attributable to want of capital, a3 several of the claims are in the hands of tho original holders, who have been at very great expense in working them since their discovery, and, in many instances, compelled to suspend work, owing to the large quantity of water in some of the shafts. Tunnelling must be resorted to before any practical results follow, and to effect that object, capital must be introduced. Tlie large capitalists and squatters of Gipps Land ought to turn their -attention in that direction, and, by assisting to open the many rich reefs between Wood's Point and Donnelly's Cr«&k, place Gipps Land in a position which it has never before occupied.

Buildings aro being rapidly erected in all directions about Wood's Point, and some of the sites have been bought at the extraordinary high figure of £6 per foot. I fear some of the purchasers will have cause for regret, as it is perfectly impossible that all, or even one-half, of the business people can succeed, notwithstanding the extreme richness of many of the reefs of tho district.

The Riverine Herald reports that " Mr. Cracknell, superintendent of the telegraph department of New South Wales, arrived in Echuca on Monday evening. Ho is engaged, we believe, in endeavouring to establish an independent line of telegraph between South Wales."